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This internship has been one of the most satisfying experiences at Villanova. It exposed one, not only to the workings of a Law Clinic, but also it allows one a first-hand view of immigration issues facing the surrounding communities. This internship is perfect for students interested in Law or interested in Social Justice. As an interpreter, you work closely translating between student-attorneys and their clients. You meet clients from many different backgrounds; their stories are heartbreaking and harrowing and your life is put into perspective after you realize what people’s lives are like. It’s almost unbelievable to think that there are such injustices happening so close to out comfortable Villanova. You leave this internship with a lot more than just credits on your transcript. You leave with a new understanding of immigration issues, a greater proficiency in conversational Spanish, a new knowledge of Spanish legal terms, and a fresh perspective on life. Do this internship; not only will you be helping clients who need legal representation, but you’ll also be gaining knowledge and experiences that will follow you for a long time to come. Beatriz Argentina Iñíguez

This internship has been one I enthusiastically recommend the Interpreter Internship to all Spanish students who are looking to use their skills to help real people in very concrete ways. Effective communication between the interpreter, client, and law students can help make or break cases that address anything from significantly large unpaid wage claims to rights to proper medical care. For me personally, hearing the sincere offerings of thanks from the clients and law students alike helped to make this experience once of the most valuable that I have had here at Villanova. Although there were moments when interpreting was especially challenging, the advisors and other interpreters created an excellent support system—I always knew where to go with any questions. Between interpreting for clients and law-students over the phone and making trips out to the farm-worker camps, you will learn a great deal not only about the language, but also about the issues facing
immigrants and low-income Spanish-speakers today. I really encourage you to join this internship program and help give a voice to local Spanish-speakers in their struggles for justice. ¡Necesitamos su ayuda! Emily Trovato

Working as an interpreter in the Law School this semester has been an invaluable experience. Studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain for a semester, I was surrounded by the Spanish language and culture. Upon my return to the United States, my only real opportunity to speak the language was by keeping in touch with my Spanish friends and by attending class every week. However, to maintain skill and proficiency speaking a foreign language, these opportunities were simply not enough. Working as an interpreter for the Law School, I had the experience to once again sharpen my speaking skills in real-life situations. But being an interpreter meant more than just having chances to speak Spanish, we got to know and interact with real people who needed our help. Whether we conducted interpretations in the clinic, making phone calls or translating documents, or traveling to surrounding counties to see an entirely different way of life, my experience this semester has been absolutely amazing and one that I hope many students will have the opportunity to have. Shawn Duffy

The internship at the law school's legal aid clinic has truly been one of my most rewarding experiences at Villanova. As opposed to taking a regular classroom course, the internship has not only allowed me to practice and perfect my Spanish language skills, but also come into contact with a culture and lifestyle completely different from my own. Many of us have lived sheltered lives, living in our own small communities at home or secluded on Villanova’s campus, immersed in school work and our daily routines. However, through this internship, I have experienced an entirely different way of life. Many of the clients in the clinic are poor, migrant workers, living in tiny, dilapidated apartments, working brutal jobs simply to be able to feed their families and pay their rent. These families are not in third world countries or even in large cities; but rather, right outside our community. The satisfaction that I have gained from translating between these individuals and their lawyers and helping them resolve their legal problems has altered my perspective on my own life and has definitely made the internship a worthwhile experience. Juan García

This is an unforgettable experience because you can offer your services as a translator to different clients that really need your help. You are involved in true cases that can affect people’s lives. Therefore, you can give the clients hope that there are people like us, willing to help them. It is very fulfilling to assist people in need when they are hurt, mistreated, or victims of an unjust act. Just a few hours per week at the Villanova Law School Clinic or in the Outreach programs can give you the satisfaction that you are offering your time to help others. There is also a week meeting where you practice to translate different situations with your classmates and professors so you can be prepared for the different cases. I recommend this Internship if you really want to make a difference. Marian Ortiz

My experience working at the Villanova Clinic has been formidable. The Clinic has given me the opportunity to further enhance my bilingual proficiency and at the same time I have been able to help those that need my skills the most. I highly recommend the internship at the Clinic for those students who want to experience a real and genuine experience in expanding their bilingual skills. Not only will the intern be able to translate legal documents but also he/she will have the opportunity to interpret day-to-day conversations. Working at the clinic is a fantastic learning experience. Bryan Rivera

The Villanova Law School Clinical Program distinguishes itself as an opportunity for lived, experiential learning in the legal field. Law School students work under the direct supervision of faculty members to represent the cases of real clients. Oftentimes, these clients are marginalized persons who have had difficulty acquiring the legal help they need. Thus, the program also functions as a sort of outreach to the less fortunate of our society. As an interpreter, I worked with law students and professors to facilitate communication between English and Spanish speakers by translating conversations, written correspondence, and documents. Therefore, I acted as an integral link between the Law School students and their clients.

The internship entails a few variations on the act of interpreting. I have mostly been involved with projects that require verbal translation and the use of the Spanish language. These include taking phone calls and messages from Spanish speakers, leaving messages on answering machines, and acting as an interpreter for conversations between lawyer and client both in person and via the telephone. I have a responsibility to maintain the integrity and intent of the speakers involved in these situations and to act simply as an impartial conduit of communication. I have also done some work translating forms and documents into Spanish, in which case I am bound to represent the words clearly and in full.

I had hoped to accomplish quite a few things throughout the course of the internship and I believe that the Clinical Program has acted an indispensable opportunity to better myself and my community in a few ways. I feel that I have applied and improved my Spanish language proficiency (this includes listening skills, fluency, and vocabulary). Secondly, I have used these linguistic skills to help others, particularly those disenfranchised members of the Latino community in the Philadelphia area. Not only that, but I have also met some really amazing people, and had fun while working in the office. It has been an extremely rewarding experience on the whole, and I am very glad to have participated in the program. Kim Reilly

This internship was a wonderful experience where I was able to pursue my interests in the Spanish language and law. Translating helped me to learn new vocabulary and phrases in Spanish and gave me a greater understanding of the structure of the language. Interacting with the law students showed me how lawyers can truly benefit the lives of their clients. I would recommend this internship to anyone who would be interested in practicing their Spanish skills while making a difference in the lives of underprivileged people. Shery Strickler

Seldom does an opportunity arise when a student can truly see his or her work in progress. Every student has problems to solve and papers to write, but with the Spanish Internship at the Villanova University School of Law, academics take an entirely new tone. With this internship, students rely on their advanced Spanish skills to assist clients at the Law Clinic with various legal issues. Law students are permitted to represent clients in court, yet often times they are unable to effectively communicate with their clients. Thus, there is great need for interpreters at the clinic.

Participating in the internship allows students to greatly improve their Spanish – both speaking, and writing – and also gives them an opportunity to work in a professional setting. For those interested in improving their Spanish, gaining a better knowledge of the law, and working in a real-life environment, the Spanish Internship at the Law School is an absolute must. Jim Smith

When I first began this internship, I was unsure about how I would be able to assist clients who were native Spanish speakers, especially since I am not a native speaker. However, those fears quickly disappeared after a week or so on the job. The clients, attorneys, and other interns are very understanding of one’s strengths and weaknesses in the language. In fact, the interns often help each other out with translations when someone has a large task or needs guidance.

The clinic is a bustling but low-key atmosphere. People usually converse with each other as they work, and there is usually food sitting on the table for the staff. The interns mainly are on “stand by” until an attorney needs a letter or document translated or needs to make a phone call. Also, they often ask for interpreters for client visits and practice hearings. Although I never was able to go on an outside assignment, I did participate in a few mock hearings with Hispanic clients. They were not very difficult, and even a student with intermediate proficiency would be able to interpret effectively.

Overall, I highly recommend the internship for anyone who wants to perfect his or her Spanish skills in a real-world environment and is considering law school after graduation. I feel that this program is very rewarding on a personal level, especially after hearing the stories of some of the clients I have helped. Some of them aren’t even college age and have been through more than many of us could imagine. I feel that, through my interpretation skills, I have done my part to help improve their lives, whether they are seeking asylum in the US or trying to contest tax errors made by the IRS. Nicholas Carosella

Working at the law school clinic has been an extremely valuable experience for me. Not only is there the obvious benefits, such as being able to practice conversational Spanish in an environment with native speakers, but it is the contacts made in this environment which are probably just as valuable. All the interpreters are as a whole a very tight knit group. Whenever I have needed help interpreting something, or needed someone to cover for me, I know that I can depend on the other interpreters to be there for me. Also, when you work on a case with the lawyers for so long, it is inevitable that you get close to them. It’s a great way to get contacts for law school, if that is something that you are interested in. Patricia Llosa

This internship was perfect for me as I end my career in the Spanish Department here at Villanova. I needed something that was not in the classroom, but still gave me the chance to practice everything that I have learned in class and in my travels. The fact that we had to write logs every week made me keep practicing my Spanish writing skills, but the translations over the phone also helped me become more comfortable with speaking Spanish in general. I surprisingly learned a few Spanish colloquialisms, which helps in my quest to be completely fluent. Overall this internship was the best way to achieve my goal of changing my learning envirnoment, while being able to continue learning Spanish. Nia Jackson